Elastic spikes for securing railroad tracks



Feb. 5, 1957 H. HODEL 2,780,416

ELASTIC SFIKES FOR SECURING RAILROAD TRACKS Filed Ma 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 5, 1957 H. HODEL 2,789,416

ELASTIC SPIKEIS FOR SECURING RAILROAD TRACKS Filed May 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 section urging the rail onto its supporting tie.

United States Patent 2,780,416 V ELASTIC SPIKES FOR SECURING RAILROAD TRACKS Hans Hodel, Engelberg, Switzerland Application May 27, 1953, Serial No. 357,773 3 Claims priority, application Switzerland May 30, 1952 6 Claims. (Cl. 238349) For several decades elastic spikes have been used for securing rails onto their ties, more particularly in the case of wooden ties. I

In spite of the favourable results obtained with railroad tracks secured over wooden ties, the use of elastic spikes has not yet widely spread in the case of railroad tracks secured over concrete ties. The reason for this fact consists in that the types of elastic spikes proposed hitherto do not sufliciently take into account the particu 1 lar properties of concrete ties. J

My invention has for its object an arrangement for securing rails through elastic spikes in a manner satisfying also the requirements of concrete ties.

This arrangement for securing rails according to my invention is characterized by the fact that the elastic spike is constituted by a rolled bar forming on one hand the actual point engaging the tie and, on the other hand, a medial loop-shaped part including an elastic strap Preferably the rolled bar is bent in a manner such that its two ends engage each other and form together the point of the spike while the medial portion of the bar is shaped so as to form the above referred to loop.

It is of advantage to give this strap a shape such that its arms form a loop in the portions connected directly with the ends constituting the actual securing point, while said loops are interconnected by a U-shaped bridge member which urges the rail into engagement with the lower flange of the rail in its operative position.

I have illustrated by way of example in accompanying drawings three preferred embodiments of my invention. In'said drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 show the rail-securing means in accordance with the first embodiment respectively in side view and in transverse view, the tie, or the tie and the rail, being respectively shown cross-sectionally;

Fig. 3 is a view seen from above of the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate in a similar manner the rail-securing means in accordance with a second embodiment;

Figs. 7 and 8 relate to a third embodiment.

Turning to Figs. 1 to 3, 1 designates a railroad tie, of concrete for instance, in which is provided, wherever the rail is to be secured, a bored plug 1a of wood or the like suitable material. The rail shown at 4 is held fast by securing means constituted by an elastic spike holding said rail on the tie 1 or else, on a carrier plate 1b laid over the latter. The elastic spike is constituted by a rolled bar bent several times and the ends 2 and 3 of which are folded so as to engage each other and to'form the actual point which is to enter the tie, into the bore of the plug 1a of which it is urged. The medial section of the spike, connecting the two ends 2 and 3 assumes the shape illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 so as to form an elastic strap which holds the rail 4 in intimate contact with the underlying tie 1. Each arm of this strap forms-first, starting from the point element 2 or 3, a flat loop 2a or 3a projecting away from the rail 4, the two loops being interconnected on the opposite side of the point 23 so as to form a U-shaped bridge-piece 5 engaging the lower flange 4a of the rail 4 in order to urge the latter onto the rail-carrying tie by reason of the elastic action exerted by the strap which has just been described.

In order to prevent any shifting of the heads of the spikes as produced in the usual manner by the creeping of the rail, the two arms of the elastic strap merging into the ends or points 2 and 3 form first lateral elements facing opposite directions and the shape of which is such that they engage the lower flange 4aof the rail.

I oppose thus any creeping action of the rail over the ties not only by reason of the frictional resistance The rolled bar which serves for the execution of the elasticspike may assume cross-sectionally a semi-circular, semi-oval, rectangular or the like cross-section. Since the two ends of the elastic spike are associated so as to form a single securing point, it is necessary to provide a single opening for the positioning of each spike, which is of particular interest in the case of concrete ties by reason of the fact that, in the actual vicinity of the point of engagement by the rail there, as well known, damage most frequent occurs, the pre-stressed concrete tie is thus weakened as little as possible. It is of advantage to provide the interengaging surfaces of the ends or points 2 and 3 with suitable unevennesses so as to prevent them from shifting with reference to each other when the double point 2-3 is urged into the lining or plug 1a. If required, the ends of the bar form ing the point may also be welded together.

The embodiment according to Figs. 4 to 6, distinguishes from the preceding rail-securing device chiefly through the fact that the two ends 2 and 3 forming the securing point, extend upwardly before extending into any loop and they are bent only at a certain distance above the upper ends of the points so as to form the desired loops, in contradistinction with the first embodiment wherein the upper ends of the securing points are bent in opposite directionsimmediately above the plug 1a. A further diflerence consists in that the U-shaped bridge-piece of the elastic strap engaging the lower flange of the rail is bent so as to match transversely the outline of the edge of said lower flange.

It is not essential for the securing end or point 2-3 to engage the lower flange of the rail, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and it may, in fact, be slightly spaced with reference thereto. The guiding of the lower flange of the rail is provided in such a case solely through the part of the elastic strap engaging said lower flange. This manner of executing the rail-securing arrangement shows the advantage that any lateral shocks, which may arise during service, are absorbed elastically by the part of the head of the spike returning yieldiugly to its normal position. The straining of the points of the spikes engaging the tie and submitted to the action of lateral stresses occurring during service are thus greatly reduced and the life of the rail-securing arrangement lengthened.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a third embodiment wherein the rolled bar'a is provided throughout a section of its length with a longitudinal slot b. The slotted part of the rolled ing the elastic strap serves, as in the precedingly described" cases for urging the rail under pressureonto'the tie.

What I claim is:

l. A resilient rail spike comprising a"one-piece'rolled bar the ends of which are side by-side with each other forming ashank for engaging a tie; and the interme-' diate portion of which is bent in a three dimensional closed loop symmetrical-"with respectfto' a center line between said ends, said 'loop forming a-resilient spike headforbearing against a'rail flange when the rail isin position-on thetie.

2. A resilient rail-spike compri'sing a*one piecarolled barthe ends of which--are'side=by-side with each other forming ashank-for engaging-a tie,':and-the interme-' diateportion-of which is bent in a three-dimensionalclosed loopforming a resilient' spike head" for bearing againstarail fiangewhen the rail isin"rmsitionon'the tie, said loop being formed by'the intermediate-portion extending fromthe'ends of the-bar which form-th'e sh'ank upwardly-from the-'rail'and 'then beirig bent towardthe rail anddownwardlyto form a bent: bridge =over the flange of the rail to pressdown thereon; theportions of said loop between the ends ofsaid bar and said bentbridge being symmetrical abouta center*line* between said ends.

3. A resilient rail spike as claimedirrclaim- 2iii-which" from-the-endsofthebar-which form the shanloin diametrically opposite directions from the shank parallel to the edge of the flange of the rail and then upwardly and away from the rail.

4. A resilient rail spike as claimed in claim 3 in which the part of the loop extending-in diametrically opposite directions from the shank curves downwardly for engagement with-theside-edgeof the flange'of the-rail at at least one point on each side of the shank.

5. A resilient rail spike as claimed in claim 2 in which the portion of the loop extending from the ends of the bar which form -the shank extends upwardly "as av continuationof-the shank, curves away from the rail andthen curves toward the rail and downwardly to form said bent bridge.

6. A resilient rail spike as claimed in claim 5 in which the portion of the loop extending from the ends of the bar which formthe shankand'which curves toward the least two points, one on each side of "the shank, and,

then curves upwardly to form said bent bridge.

References Cited'in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,'l50;259' Woodings' Mar. 14, 1939 2,257,640

2,524,806" Jack Oct.10, 1950 Muller Sept. 30', 1941. 

